Reviving Legal Excellence: ALPA's Initiative to Relaunch the Jessup Moot Court in Afghanistan

February 16, 2025

In 2024, ALPA embarked on a groundbreaking initiative in relaunching Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition “The Jessup”, together with International Mother Institute. The Jessup competition is owned and organized globally by International Law Student’s Association “ILSA” and its Global Sponsor White & Case LLP.  Ramin Mansoory served as the national administrator for this year’s Afghanistan Jessup competition.  

The Jessup Competition, recognized as the world's largest and most prestigious moot court competition with over 700 universities from over 106 countries and territories participating, offers law students a platform to engage in simulated international legal disputes. This competition is not necessarily new to Afghan law students, Afghanistan has been participating in Jessup competition since 2008. However, recent developments prevented Afghan female students from opportunities like this. ALPA and our partners were not deterred by these developments; neither were the incredibly talented Afghan women. 

Five teams competed in the national round, representing different regions and groups of Afghanistan. Each team underwent rigorous training in legal research, oral advocacy, and international law under the mentorship of experienced legal practitioners. The initiative not only enhanced their practical legal skills but also strengthened their confidence in presenting complex legal arguments before esteemed panels.

The national round of the competition took place online on January 24 and 26. The five teams of incredibly talented students showcased their excellence in knowledge of international law and lawyering skills. These fiercely competitive moots were judged by both Afghan and international judges from Jessup community, highlighting the high standards of the event.

In a thrilling conclusion, a respondent from ALPA emerged as the winner of the national round. This remarkable achievement secures their place in the world’s largest and most prestigious moot court competition, taking place in Washington, D.C., from 28th March to 6th April 2025. As scheduled on the official Jessup website, our incredible team will proudly represent Afghanistan on this global stage.

It is important to acknowledge and thank Ramin Mansoory for his initiatives, management, and leadership of the national rounds. Deep appreciation also goes to all Judges coaches and teams for their efforts and sacrifices in making this competition a success. Special thanks to ILSA and White & Case for their unwavering support of this initiative and for enabling Afghanistan's women to compete in this extraordinary situation.

Through this initiative, ALPA has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Afghanistan’s legal community. By relaunching the Jessup Moot Court Competition, it has created a sustainable pathway for Afghan law students to engage with international legal frameworks, compete at a global level, and contribute to the future of Afghanistan’s judicial and legal reform.

As the competition progresses, the impact of this initiative will continue to resonate, inspiring the next generation of legal professionals to uphold justice, engage in critical legal discourse, and represent Afghanistan on international legal platforms.